We've been eagerly following the incredible green buildings being constructed for the <a href="../tag/shanghai-world-expo" target="_blank">2010 Shanghai World Expo</a>, and we can't wait for the opening of the festival this Saturday! From supermassive <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/11/11/sun-valleys-to-light-up-the-night-and-day-at-2010-world-expo/">solar sun valleys</a> to the UK's stunning <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/04/05/construction-complete-on-the-uks-stunning-seed-cathedral/">seed cathedral</a> to <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/03/15/cirque-du-soleil-lends-hand-to-design-canada-pavilion-for-shanghai-expo/">rainwater-harvesting roofs</a> of all shapes and sizes, we couldn't be more pleased by the green building elements on display -- read on for our six favorite pavilions from the 2010 World Expo!

<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/09/the-shanghai-corporate-pavilion-made-of-recycled-cd-cases-nears-completion/" target="_blank">Shanghai Corporate Pavilion</a></h3>
Constructed from recycled plastic CD jewel cases, the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/09/the-shanghai-corporate-pavilion-made-of-recycled-cd-cases-nears-completion/" target="_blank">Shanghai Corporate Pavilion</a> is made up of thousands of polycarbonate tubes lit up with LED lights. Designed by Atelier Feichang Jianzhu, the Pavilion also features rainwater harvesting, a solar hot water heating system, and its lighting scheme can be changed on a whim.
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<a href="http://www.fcjz.com/">+ FCJZ</a>
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photo credit: <a href="http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/9773/shanghai-corporate-pavilion-at-expo-2010.html">designboom.com</a>

<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/05/construction-complete-on-the-uks-stunning-seed-cathedral/">UK Pavilion</a></h3>
The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/05/construction-complete-on-the-uks-stunning-seed-cathedral/">Seed Cathedral</a> is a spectacular pavilion designed by Heatherwick Studio in collaboration with the Millennium Seed Bank. The structure's bristling facade is composed of 60,000 acrylic rods filled with seeds from around the world -- these rods act as fiber optic sunlight transport systems that draw light into the structure during the day. At night, the inside lights up and a soft glow transmits through the rods to the exterior.
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<a href="http://www.ukshanghaiexpo.com/">+ UK Pavilion</a>
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<a href="http://www.heatherwick.com/">+ Heatherwick Studio</a>
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photo credit: <a>UK Pavlion</a>

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Shanghai World Expo Top 6 Pavilions - Sun Valleys (credit: Xinhuanet)

<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/11/11/sun-valleys-to-light-up-the-night-and-day-at-2010-world-expo/">Sun Valleys</a></h3>
<a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/11/11/sun-valleys-to-light-up-the-night-and-day-at-2010-world-expo/">Sun Valleys</a> runs along the main Expo Boulevard and serves as a central meeting location for the Expo. The 1 km walkway features six inverted cones designed to collect rainwater, channel light down into the lower levels, and provide shade for the breezeway underneath.
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<a href="http://en.expo2010.cn/a/20090514/000002.htm">+ Sun Valleys for Shanghai World Expo</a>
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photo credit: <a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2010-04/25/c_13266625_2.htm">Xinhuanet</a>

<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/03/15/cirque-du-soleil-lends-hand-to-design-canada-pavilion-for-shanghai-expo/" target="_blank">Canada Pavilion</a></h3>
Designed in part by Cirque du Soleil, the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/03/15/cirque-du-soleil-lends-hand-to-design-canada-pavilion-for-shanghai-expo/" target="_blank">Canada Pavilion</a> will feature live shows by the world-famous performance troupe. The building's exterior features a wood-clad facade designed to harvest rainwater, and vegetation covers the walls inside the courtyard, which should help keep the temperature moderate.
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<a href="http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/cirquedusoleil/en/special/shanghai2010/intro/intro">+ Cirque du Soleil and the Canada Pavilion</a>
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photo credit: <a href="http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/9458/canada-pavilion-at-shanghai-expo-2010.html">designboom</a>

<h3><a>The China Pavilion</a></h3>
The <a>The China Pavilion</a>, also known as the Oriental Crown, is one of 5 buildings that will remain at the expo site permanently -- it will be converted into a history museum at the end of the Expo. Painted the same red as the Forbidden City, the Oriental Crown also harvests rainwater features passive solar design.
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<a href="http://en.scut.edu.cn/detail.jsp?id=1450">+ Designed by He Jingtang</a>
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photo credit: <a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2010-04/25/c_13266856_4.htm">Xinhuanet</a>

<h3><a>Moanco Pavilion</a></h3>
Wrapped in a illuminated wave of LED lights, the <a>Moanco Pavilion</a> is powered by solar panels. Inspired by the waters of the Mediterranean, the shimmering pavilion is like “a rock surrounded by the dancing light of a perfect sea”.
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<a href="http://www.naco.net/">+ Naço Architectures</a>
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photo credit: <a href="http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/9209/naco-architectures-monaco-pavilion.html">designboom</a>

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Shanghai World Expo Top 6 Pavilions (credit: Xinhuanet)

We've been eagerly following the incredible green buildings being constructed for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, and we can't wait for the opening of the festival this Saturday! From supermassive solar sun valleys to the UK's stunning seed cathedral to rainwater-harvesting roofs of all shapes and sizes, we couldn't be more pleased by the green building elements on display -- read on for our six favorite pavilions from the 2010 World Expo!